Improvement in pipe-wrenches



W. H. BURTON.

Pipe-Wrenches.

N0.135,773. Pmmaremmn.

AM, PHOTO-UTHUGRAPHIC 00 N. X (ossmvss ma csss) Urrn OFFICE.

\VILLIAM lI. BURTON, OF SELMA, ALABAMA.

IMPRQVEMENT IN PlPE-WRENCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,773, dated lebrnary ll, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. 'Bna'roN, of Selma, in the county ofDallas and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvementin lipeWrenches; and the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingmaking a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents aside view of my adj ustable universal pipe wrench for various sizes ofpi pes'.

My invention relates to a tool much used in the various branches ofmechanic arts, especially in plumbing, steam and gas fitting; and itconsists in. the pivoting of a serrated jaw to a bar, which forms thehandle or lever'ot' the wrench in such a manner as to make a forkedwrench adjustable to fitall or most of the various sizes of gas, water,and steam pipes in use.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will describe it morein detail, refe"- ring to the drawing.

The handle G, which forms the lever for turning the pipe D, is made ofsteel, one end beinginclined or bent back to make one of the forks orsmooth-faced jaw B. At a suitahie distance from this bent end a lug orpro jection, (l, is forged on the bar, to which the I serrated movablejaw Ais pivoted, so that it will open and close to vary the fork orspace E between thejaws to any desiredextent to fit the various sizes ofpipe, from half an inch to two inches in diameter. The movable serratedjaw A is provided with a lug or projection, (1, near t-hejoint e,against which a thumb or set screw, h, is made to bear in such a mannerthat it will hold the movable jaw A firmly from opening the fork orspaceE in whatever position it may be set, so that whether it isrequired to turn a half-inch pipe, an inch pipe,

or even a two-inch pipe, or screw-nuts of various sizes, the fork orspace Ebetween the jaws may be adjusted to tit; and there is anothergreat advantage of the adjustable jaws over the rigid fork pipe-wrench,which is that it can be adjusted to turn any-sized pipe that lies closeagainst a rigid or unyielding substance.

Thus it will be seen that a serrated-fork pi pe-wrench, made -to operatein the manner above described, will be a universal tool for all theordinary sizes of pipes used in water, steam, and gas fitting.

I am aware that rigid serrated forks, made of one piece, have been madeof various forms for pipewrenches, and I do not claim them; but

hat I do claim as my invention, is an improvement on any of them, whichis- The adjustable serrated or movable jaw fork pipe-wrench, when thesaid jaw is held firmly by a set-screw, or an equivalent device, foradjusting the opening or space E, between the jaws A and B, toireceiveand turn the pipe, substantially in the manner as herein shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of July,-1872.

WILLIAM HENRY BURTON. Witnesses:

J NO. W. ROBERTS, FRANK LAPORTE.

